Improvement iw washing-machines



2Sheets-SheetL F. W. ROBERTSON. Washing-Machines;

Patented May 26,1874.

2 Sheets-Sheet2.

F. W. RDBERTSUN.V Washing-Machines.

Patented May 26,1874.

Attorneys.

FRANCIS IV. ROBERTSON, OF STONE FORT, ILLINOIS.

IMPROVEMENT IN WASHING-MACHINES.

Specification forming part cf Letters Patent No. L'SLIBES, dated May 26, 1874 application filed October 16, 1873.

To all whom. fit may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANCIS W. ROBERT- soN, of Stone Fort, in the county of Saline and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Washing- Machines 5 and-I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, that will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

In the drawings, Figure l is a vertical longitudinal section of my invention. Fig. 2 is a plan view7 and Figs. 3 and 4 are details. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the gripers. Fig'. 6 is a side elevation of my invention.

This invention has. relation to washing-machines 5 and it consists in the construction and novel arrangement of devices for griping and holding the clothes, as and for the purpose hereinafter explained.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, A designates the box of the washing-machine, having transversely-arranged rollers B at the bottom. C designates the rubber, having pivoted transverse slats D attached to the sides C and linked alternately to the bars E, connected at their forward ends to the cranks of a double-crank shaft, F, journaled to the sides of the rubber. Said shaft has a lever, Gr, by moving which the bars E are alternately thrown forward and backward, so as to cause the lower edges of the slats D to come together and separate alternately in pairs in order to gripe and release the clothes. The edges of the slats D should be beveled, as shown, and

Y may be correspondingly notched, as shown in I, journaled to the sides of the box A, and provided with the balance-wheels K, one or both of which have handles, L. The necessary reciprocating motion is given to the rubber by turning the crank-shaft I. As will be observed, the rubber and roller wash-board are vcorrespondingly curved. The sides of the rubber rise to or near the top edges of the box.

.A brake or presser, consisting of the oblique allowed to rest on the edges of the rubber.

In the sides of the box may be cut notches, in, to allow the rollers to come'in contact with the sides of the rubber. This brake or presser is designed primarily to press the rubber with suiiicient force upon the clothes to produce the necessary friction. To increase this pressure, I provide the springs N, and furnish the same with rollers, u. The springs are secured to the sides ofthe box, and the rollers allowed to rest upon the oblique enlarged ends of the brake or presser-arms. A secondary object of the brake is to support the rubber when the latter is raised, as shown in dotted lines in the drawing, Fig. l, the brake being swung back and the elevated rubber rested on the transverse bar which connects its sides. In raising the rubber the springs rest on the side boards, the rollers passing upward and the springs bending slightly to correspond to the position of said rubber. P designates a hook, attached to the end of the lever Gr, and of sufficient length to extend to the transverse shaft G.

The operation is as follows: A sufficient quantity of water being put in the box, the gripers are separated by' throwing forward the lever G. The rubber is then raised and supported by the brake, as before described. The clothes are then spread upon the rollers, the rubber lowered, and the gripers closed upon the articles, and held fast by conneetin the hook P to the shaft G. The rubber is then reciprocated by means of the mechanism provided for the work and the clothes speedily cleansed. In Fig. 4 are shown details of construction, designed to prevent the too rapid wear of the journals and bearings of the rolL ers and gripers. R designates a casting, having projecting sockets 1*, which fit recesses in the sides of the rubber and roller-board. rIhese sockets form the bearings of the roller and griper, Whielr may have journals formed as thimbles or ferrules fitting their ends, as shown in Fig. 4.

IfIaving fully described my invention, What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. The combination, with the reciprocating rubber C, having pivoted gripers D, of the bars E, crank-shaft F, lever G, and hook I), substantially as described.

2. The brake, consisting` of the arms .I and rollers M, in combination with the reciprocating rubber C, substantially as described.

3. The springs N, in combination With the brake, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set :my hand this 22d day of August, 1873.

FRANCIS W. ROBERTSON.

Witnesses:

JOHN IAIUronINsoN, D. C. SMITH. 

